Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League pitcher Wilmer Font was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for games played May 14-21, 2017. Font made two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, one of which was a record-setting performance.
In his May 15 start, Font went seven innings and set an Oklahoma City single-game record with 15 strikeouts. Chuck Smith held the previous OKC team record with 14 strikeouts, set June 23, 1999.
Font’s outing included flirting with a perfect game and no-hitter. He retired the first 18 batters faced, 12 by way of strike out, and twice struck out the side during the first six innings.
The Sacramento River Cats’ (San Francisco Giants affiliate) first baserunner came via a leadoff walk in the seventh inning. Font allowed two hits, one RBI single, but limited the damage by striking out the next two batters faced.
Then against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres affiliate) on May 21, the right-hander collected 10 strikeouts despite only pitching five innings. Font allowed three runs on five hits, and didn’t factor into the decision of an Oklahoma City victory.
Overall this season, the soon-to-be-27-year-old is 3-3 with a 4.40 ERA in nine starts. Font has three double-digit strike out starts, and leads the PCL with 73 strikeouts across 47 innings pitched.
